Device for measuring and dispensing ice cream



April 19, 1932. LAWSON 1,554,265

DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND DISPENSING ICE CREAM Filed June 23', 1930 IN VEN TOR; [292K010 LA W50/v,

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Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES HAROLD LAWSON, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND DISPENSING ICE CREAM Application fil ed Jane 23,

This invention relates to a device particularly adapted for use in the measuring andv dispensing of ice cream, though it includes,

within its purview, any use to which the structure may be put.

The device of the present invention has for its object to effect marked economies and savings in the handling and dispensing of ice cream, while, at the same time, insuring to the customer full, legal measure.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the amount of handling to which the ice cream is subjected, in dispensing the same.

A further object of the invention is to render it possible to easily, quickly and accurately measure and dispense fractional parts of pints or quarts of ice cream in a way which will be eminently fair to both the dealer and the purchaser.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view therethrough, and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The device of the present invention comprises a cylinder 5, that is open at both of its ends. This cylinder is, preferably, made of relatively thin sheet metal, and is adapted to receive an open ended paper carton 6, such as is now so widely employed in the dispensing of ice cream. These cartons are provided with closure caps (not shown) for the upper and lower ends thereof. When the carton is in place in the cylinder 5, its lower edge rests upon a shoulder 7, and the lower portion of the cylinder 5 is beveled upon its inner face, as indicated at 8, the outside of the cylinder being left straight. A cap 9,

1930. Serial. No. 463,193.

adapted to be secured to the upper end of thecylinder 5, by azpin and bayonet slot, or

other quick acting connection, indicated'at 10, carries an upstanding tubular shank 11, which terminates in a handle 12. A rod 13:- is slidably mounted in the tubular shank 11, sald rod carrying a locking pin 14:, that is adapted to engage in one of the notches 15 -or16, formed along the edges of a slot 17,

in the face of the tubular shank 11. The pin His thrust inwardly by a spring 18, to cause the pointed inner end to be engaged in openings 1 9 or 20, as the case may be, according to whether the pin 145is engaged in a notch 16, or a notch 15, it being understood that there will be as many of the openings 19 and 20 disposed in vertical rows, as may be necessary to accommodate the pins 14:, when engaged in the notches 15 or 16, as the case may be. A plate or'plunger 21 is mounted upon thelower end of the rod 13, and determines the distance to 'which the cylinder 5 may be thrust into a body of the ice cream to be dispensed. i The structure so far described provides a complete operative device, without additional features, and it is optional whether the followernow to be described, shall be used, or not. This followercomprisesasleeve 22, which surrounds the shank 11, and is connected by rods 23, with a plate or spider 24, the latter normally lying within cap 9, immediately belowthe head of said cap. When a full-sized carton 6 is employed, such carton is held against endwise movement during the thrust of the device into the body of the ice cream by being held between shoulder 7 and a rim 25, which constitutes the outer rim of the spider 24. If it is to be desired to employ a pint carton instead of a quart carton, the follower may be moved downwardly to. cause the rim 25 to bear upon the upper edge of the carton and hold it in place, even though it be only half as long as the quart carton. To lock the follower in its adjusted position, studs 26 are provided upon shank 11, and the sleeve 22 is provided with a slot 24 which permits the passage of the sleeve past the studs, when the slot 245 is aligned with the studs, and which will hold the sleeve and, consequently, the rest of the follower against endwise movement, if the sleeve be turned slightly to bring the slot out of alignment with the studs. To this end, the openings in the top of the cap 9, through which the rods 23 pass, are made large enough to permit of this slight turning movement of the sleeve.

The advantages of the device of the present invention may be best appreciated by understanding that ice cream is bought, by the retailer, by weight and sold by measure, and that if, in dispensing the ice cream to the customer, it is packed or compressed beyond a normal or proper density, a great deal more ice cream may be givenbyweight than should be given, in which case, very serious losses to the dealer may result. A quart of ice cream. compressed to proper or normal density, should weigh 18 ounces. Actual'experh ence has shown that, by the use of many of the devices upon the market, the ice cream 1scompressed to a point where as much as 24: ounces, or more, is sold for a quart. It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to cure these difficulties by pro viding a device which, while insuring a package of ice cream that will be free of voids,

will, at the same time, not be compressed beyond the normal or proper density.

Additional serious losses are occasioned to the dealer because of the propensity of the purchasing public to order fractions of quarts -or pints of ice cream. That is to say, if ice cream is selling at thirty cents per pint, many people want twenty-five cents worth, and they, frequently, call for fifteen cents worth, ten'cents worth, etc. In endeavoring to fill these fractional orders, the dealer has to guess at the proper amount, below or above a quart or a pint, that should be given, and in so guessing, frequently guesses wrong, and,

"thus, additional serious losses are occasioned.

From What has been said, it will be apparent that, in order to secure the maximum of desired results, a dispensing apparatus must comprise the following features:

First: It must be capable of delivering ice cream, with one act of compression only, into the container that to be given to the customer, because. if compressed more than once,

the weight delivered will be correspondingly device of the present invention, because the outer side of the cylinder 5 is straight entirely from its lower edge upwardly, and thus, there is no compression or increase of density of the ice cream left in the main container. The bevel at the lower edge of the cylinder 5 is wholly upon the inner side of the cylinde and is of such a nature as to compress the core of ice cream barely enough to cause it to enter the carton without undue resistance. This slight compression insures against the existence of any voids in the ice cream and insures that the customers will get solid, legal measure.

Qpenings21, in .the plate 21, in conjunction with the elongated openings 9 in the cap 9,

permit the user to look down into the device and ascertain when the ice cream has reached the openings 21 ,'thus, indicating that the desired amount of ice cream has entered the carton. The notches 15 are, preferably, graduated in pints and fractions thereof, while the notches 16 are located at points intermediate the notches 15 and, thus, provide for the odd fractions hereinbefore referred to.

lVhile I have described a follower consisting of spider 2e, sleeve 22, and associated parts, to take care of half size or pint cartons, the same result may be had by substituting a half length cylinder for the cylinder 5, and it is to be clearly understood that the invention includes, within its purview, the use of the device, either with or without the said follower.

Further, the invention includes, within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a cylinder having a straight outer side and a beveled lower edge terminating in a shoulder, a cap, a quick detachable connection between the cap and the cylinder, a tubular shank carried by the cap, a handle carried by the shank, a. rod vertically movable in the handle, plunger upon the lower end of said red, a locking pin extending horizontally through the rod, said shank having a vertical slot formed in its face, through which the locking pin projects, spring means tending to move the locking pin horizontally through the rod, there being a plurality of notches formed upon each edge of the slotted portion of the sad shank, and there being holes formed to receive the inner end of the locking pin when said pin occupies a position in either of said groups of notches.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a cylinder open at both ends, a cap detachably secured thereon, a handle car ried by the cap, a plunger within the cylinder of a size to pass downwardly within an open ended paper carton fitting in said of a diameter to overlie the upper edge of a V carton contained within said cylinder, and

means for effecting vertical adjustment of said follower.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a cylinder open at both ends, a cap 'detachably secured thereon, a handle carried by the cap, a plunger within the cylinder of a size to pass downwardly within an open ended paper carton fitting in saidcylinder, means for holding such a carton in place within the cylinder, means for vertically adjusting the said plunger to a plurality of varying vertical positions in order to effect the entry of fractional quantities of ice cream into the carton when the structure is forced downwardly into a body of ice cream, a follower within the cylinder of a diameter to overlie the upper edge of a carton contained within said cylinder, means for effecting vertical adjustment of said follower, said adjusting means comprising a sleeve slidably mounted upon the shank, and a connection between said sleeve and the follower.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a cylinder open at both ends, a cap detachably secured thereon, a handle carried by the cap, a plunger within the cylinder of a size to pass downwardly within an open ended paper carton fitting in said cylinder, means for holding such a carton in place within the cylinder, means for vertically adjusting the said plunger to a plurality of varying vertical positions in order to effect the entry of fractional quantities of ice cream into the carton when the structure is forced downwardly into a body of ice cream, a follower within the cylinder of a diameter to overlie the upper edge of a carton contained Within said cylinder, means for effecting vertical adjustment of said follower, said adjusting means comprising a sleeve slidably mounted upon the shank, a connection between said sleeve and the follower, and means for locking the sleeve in varying positions of vertical adjustment.

5. A device of the character described comprising a cylinder open at both ends having straight outer Walls throughout its height and a bevelled inner lower edge portion terminating in an inwardly projecting shoulder, a cap detachably secured thereon, a handle carried by the cap, a plunger within the cylinder of a size to pass downwardly within an open ended paper carton fitting in said cylinder, and means for vertically adjusting the said plunger to a plurality of varying vertical positions in order to efliect the entry of fractional quantities of ice cream into the carton when the structure is forced downwardly into a body of ice cream, said cap and plunger having aligned unobstructed formed therethrough through which the ice cream may be viewed during the filling operation.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HAROLD LAWSON.

openings 

